Revka, the daughter of two mages, knows she has a lot to live up to. People with talents -- a magical affinity for a specific task -- have changed the world. They've brought peace with stirring speeches, painted figures so lifelike you can see them moving, and carved marble statues so beautiful they make can make viewers weep.

Revka doesn't know where her talents lie, but she has a plan to find out . . . and before she's through, she'll learn that a single moment can change her life forever.

"Picture in Sand" is a fantasy short story, approximately 800 words long. This story was previously published in Daily Science Fiction magazine in September of 2010, and while it has been positively received by adult readers, its content is also appropriate for youngsters.